Supreme Court grants interim protection from arrest to journalists who alleged assault by MP Police

The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim protection from arrest to two Madhya Pradesh-based journalists who alleged custodial violence, caste-based abuse and ongoing threat to life from Bhind police, including the Superintendent of Police (SP) Asit Yadav [Shashikant Jatav @ Shashikant Goyal & Anr v. State of Madhya Pradesh]..However, a Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan refused to entertain the plea by the two journos for any further reliefs and asked them to move the Madhya Pradesh High Court."We are not entertaining the plea. However, looking at the allegations, we permit the petitioners to move the concerned High Court within two weeks from today. Till petitioners move High Court and interim prayer is concerned, the petitioner shall not be arrested," the apex court said.The petition was filed by Shashikant Jatav and Amarkant Singh Chouhan seeking urgent protection for the two journalists.Jatav and Chouhan alleged that they were kidnapped, assaulted in custody and subjected to casteist abuse by SP Yadav and his subordinates.The incident occurred on May 1 after the journalists reported on illegal sand mining activities in the Chambal river region, allegedly carried out by the sand mafia with police connivance, as per the plea..The top court further noted that “there must be some threat and ground, which made the journalist leave MP and come to Delhi.".The journalists in the plea filed through Advocate on Record Yashwant had alleged that were summoned under the guise of having tea with the SP but upon entering his chambers, they discovered several other journalists stripped to their undergarments and allegedly assaulted.According to the petition, Shashikant Jatav, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste ‘Jatav’ community, was subjected to casteist slurs and beaten with slippers on the instructions of SP Yadav.The plea stated that the journalists cannot safely approach the Madhya Pradesh High Court since they and their families continue to face threats and harassment from Bhind police..Advocates Warisha Farasat, Tamanna Pankaj, Priya Vats, Aman Naqvi, Anirudh Ramanathan and Shivanjali Bhalerao appeared for the petitioners..[Read Live Coverage].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.